profligate


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prof·li·gate

 (prŏf′lĭ-gĭt, -gāt′)
adj.
1. Given to or characterized by licentiousness or dissipation: a profligate nightlife.
2. Given to or characterized by reckless waste; wildly extravagant: a profligate spender; the profligate use of water.
n.
A profligate person.

[Latin prōflīgātus, past participle of prōflīgāre, to ruin, cast down : prō-, forward; see pro-1 + -flīgāre, intensive of flīgere, to strike down.]

prof′li·ga·cy (-gə-sē) n.
prof′li·gate·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

profligate

(ˈprɒflɪɡɪt)
adj
1. shamelessly immoral or debauched
2. wildly extravagant or wasteful
n
a profligate person
[C16: from Latin prōflīgātus corrupt, from prōflīgāre to overthrow, from pro-1 + flīgere to beat]
profligacy n
ˈprofligately adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

prof•li•gate

(ˈprɒf lɪ gɪt, -ˌgeɪt)

adj.
1. utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute.
2. recklessly prodigal or extravagant.
n.
3. a profligate person.
[1525–35; < Latin prōflīgātus broken down in character, degraded, orig. past participle of prōflīgāre to shatter, debase =prō- pro-1 + -flīgāre, derivative of flīgere to strike; see inflict, -ate1]
prof′li•gate•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

profligate

- To overcome or overthrow.
See also related terms for overcome.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.profligate - a dissolute man in fashionable societyprofligate - a dissolute man in fashionable society
debauchee, libertine, rounder - a dissolute person; usually a man who is morally unrestrained
2.profligate - a recklessly extravagant consumer
consumer - a person who uses goods or services
scattergood, spend-all, spendthrift, spender - someone who spends money prodigally
waster, wastrel - someone who dissipates resources self-indulgently
Adj.1.profligate - recklessly wasteful; "prodigal in their expenditures"
wasteful - tending to squander and waste
2.profligate - unrestrained by convention or morality; "Congreve draws a debauched aristocratic society"; "deplorably dissipated and degraded"; "riotous living"; "fast women"
immoral - deliberately violating accepted principles of right and wrong
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

profligate

adjective
1. extravagant, reckless, squandering, wasteful, prodigal, spendthrift, immoderate, improvident the most profligate consumer of energy in the world
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

profligate

adjectivenoun
1. An immoral or licentious person:
2. A person who spends money or resources wastefully:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations

profligate

[ˈprɒflɪgɪt]
A. ADJ (= dissolute) → libertino, disoluto; (= extravagant) → despilfarrador, derrochador
B. N (= degenerate) → libertino/a m/f; (= spendthrift) → despilfarrador(a) m/f
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

profligate

[ˈprɒflɪgət] adj
(= extravagant) [lifestyle, behaviour, spending] → extravagant(e)
profligate with → prodigue de
(= wasteful) profligate use of sth → le gaspillage de qch
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

profligate

adj (= dissolute)lasterhaft, verworfen; (= extravagant)verschwenderisch
n (= roué)Leichtfuß m, → Liederjan m (inf); (= prodigal)Verschwender(in) m(f)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

profligate

[ˈprɒflɪgɪt] adj (dissolute, behaviour, act) → dissipato/a; (000, person) → dissoluto/a
he's very profligate with his money → è uno che sperpera i suoi soldi
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
References in classic literature ?
I cannot say just why I conceived that there was something unhallowed in the matter of the book; perhaps this was a tint from the reputation of the rather profligate young man from whom my father had it.
You have profited by their toil to lead a profligate life.
I would not be understood to suppose that the proceedings of the unhappy scapegrace, with his few profligate companions I have here introduced, are a specimen of the common practices of society - the case is an extreme one, as I trusted none would fail to perceive; but I know that such characters do exist, and if I have warned one rash youth from following in their steps, or prevented one thoughtless girl from falling into the very natural error of my heroine, the book has not been written in vain.
He was known to us all as being a most cruel wretch,--a common drunk- ard, who had, by his reckless mismanagement and profligate dissipation, already wasted a large por- tion of his father's property.
His own character being light, profligate, and perfidious, John easily attached to his person and faction, not only all who had reason to dread the resentment of Richard for criminal proceedings during his absence, but also the numerous class of ``lawless resolutes,'' whom the crusades had turned back on their country, accomplished in the vices of the East, impoverished in substance, and hardened in character, and who placed their hopes of harvest in civil commotion.
She was a sensible woman and so she could not help looking upon me as a dissolute profligate incapable of real love.
My youth has not been wasted in a profligate life; I can be truer to you and fonder of you than many a younger man.
Allowing for the chance accessions of which any crowd is morally sure in a town where there must always be a large number of idle and profligate persons, one and the same mob was at both places.
'A profligate, sir, who has forfeited every claim not only upon those who have the misfortune to be of his blood, but upon society which knows nothing of him but his misdeeds.
Judge Driscoll, an old and respected citizen, was assassinated here about midnight by a profligate Italian nobleman or a barber on account of a quarrel growing out of the recent election.
A treacherous friend is the most dangerous enemy; and I will say boldly, that both religion and virtue have received more real discredit from hypocrites than the wittiest profligates or infidels could ever cast upon them: nay, farther, as these two, in their purity, are rightly called the bands of civil society, and are indeed the greatest of blessings; so when poisoned and corrupted with fraud, pretence, and affectation, they have become the worst of civil curses, and have enabled men to perpetrate the most cruel mischiefs to their own species.
What is to be expected of, or by, such profligates?"